8-13-75 rightfully gets the fame for being THE legendary 1975 show, but on this day the Dead were every bit as tight, high-energy, and ON. You don't realize it at first because they open with a way out-there Blues for Allah, but Stronger Than Dirt shows that they are firing on all cylinders. Merl is a great addition and I wish he were a bit higher in the mix.

This is Mickey's first full set back with the band, so the Drums is extra special.

The second half of Stronger Than Dirt is insane - each band member is playing very cool parts individually, and the sum of them is an awesome, otherworldly, and fully fleshed-out Grateful Dead jam.

I can't listen to the transition back to Blues for Allah and not smile. What a trip it must have been to see this live. It was their first performance since the "retirement shows" at the Winterland four months prior, shown in The Grateful Dead Movie. Nobody really know that they WOULD return, and then they do so by playing an entire set without singing a word! What a mind-f*ck - only the Dead would/could do that.

Almost a side note, but no less important: The Johnny B. Goode encore is great! It's a super energetic version, definitely unique and worth listening to.

If you are a big fan of 8-13-75 you will love this show. Soooo good.

It's interesting that fans didn't know for sure if the band had broken up or not. There were rumors that they were recording. Then they showed up, but for people waiting to see Santana and the Doobies (Dylan also made a surprise appearance, though he was barely mic'd). They'd been billed as Garcia & Friends, but then decided to give a live workout to the new piece as the Dead, still sans lyrics. Donna wasn't there but Saunders (the original "& Friends") and Lagin were, for a triple keys lineup. It's not much compared to the next couple workouts - particularly the show in August - but it's fun for the history buffs. The triple-keys are interesting in JBG, though there's not the usual Jer rip. It all sounds like what it is - woodshedding in front of thousands. Dylan had never done a show like this nor an FM simulcast. Baez got booed offstage and attendees favored Tower of Power. Lost Live Dead blogspot has the skinny.

SOURCES: The miller.110126 marks the first appearance of the true pre-FM. Blues for Allah is on the Beyond Description bonus disc but use the Miller. All FM sources were (still are) pegged and thumpy. Snack.18525 was the first widely available SBD but it's drier than the skankweed.13585 and miller, without improving clarity and instrument separation - though it does have the soundchecks and interviews. The kafer-boswell-smith has since been added but it's distorted and pitched slow.

Click large triangular button for endorphin propulsion.

what he brought was great. jerry a best this eve.

This is a very special set.. super high energy.. Jerry is in attack mode. Great continuous jam throughout with a killer Johnny B at the end. Thanks so much for the upload!

This is very special to heads abroad.

absolutely one of the hottest shows I've ever heard. I'll happily put a heavy gold asterisk next to this one - it's short, it's compact, but it's positively bursting out of itself - that Johnny B. Goode ain't no "obligatory" encore, neither - from the first seconds you'll have to agree this is BIG LEAGUE STUFF!

What a great, short show. One very unique jam over the course of the whole show. Very '75 sounding it really cool!

Like nothing else the Dead ever did. Everything from '75 (I guess 4 shows) is incredible but this one really is something special.

Thanks again to Charlie Miller.